Coated fabrics



Dec. 8, 1953 A. R. MORRISON ETAL COATED FABRICS 2 Sheets-sas?. l

Filed July 28, 1949 'ma @Md Dec. 8, 1953 A. R. MoRRlso'N ETAL 2,662,044

COATED FABRICS 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 28. 1949 Patented Dec. 8,1953 COATED FABRICS A. Albert It. Morrison, Newark, and Richard F.

Shannon, Lancaster, Ohio, assignors to Owens- Corning FiberglasCorporation, Toledo, Ohio, a

f corporation of Delaware Application July 28, 1949, Serial No. 107,364

This invention relates to coated fabrics and to the production and themethod for manufacturing these fabrics. More particularly, it relates toa coated fabric wherein a mass of glass bers in fabric form is treatedin one or more combinations of steps, including impregnating andbonding, to provide a producthaving the integrated properties of glassfibers and resinous, resin-like, or rubber-like materials, preferably ofa exible, resilient nature.

Coated fabrics reinforced with glass fibers are not new. Suchcombinations of materials have been used quite extensively asleathersubstitutes in the manufacture of seat covers, book bindings,wearing apparel, purses, and the like. The accepted practice makes useof a woven fabric of glass fibers as the textile base to which theresinous coating composition is applied. Woven fabrics were used becauseit was believed that only in a Woven fabric was there sufficient massintegrity to withstand the forces incident to normal handling andtreating in the coating process; that only in a woven fabric couldsufficient density be developed to permit proper coating in a few simpleresinous applications; andvthat only in a woven fabric are the bers insuch predetermined arrangement as will lend desirable'properties to thefinished fabrics.

The high cost of weaving glass bers adds man terially to the cost of thebase fabric, making it incre diiiicult to compete with fabrics ofcotton, wool, and other natural fibers in the manufacture of coatedfabrics. Another objection to the of woven fabrics of glass fibers as areinforcement or base resides in the inability of woven Abers to moverelative to one another to the extent that very little stretch isavailable; As a result, the fabric cannot be smoothly drawnabout cornersor bends as is often desired in the manufacture of fitted covers forfurnitureror the like. The coated fabric of woven glass fibers isconsidered to have poor fissure endurance, especially when compared tothe product of this invention, beingv able to withstand only about fiveto ten thousand strokes of a standard flexure endurance test; whereas,the product of this invention has been able to withstand one-halfmilliony strokes, as hereinafter will be pointed out.

Favoring the use of glass fibers are their un-` usual strength,inertness, non-inainmability, dimensional stability, resiliency, fireresistance,- i'ot resistance, moisture resistance, heat, chemical, andelectrical resistance. lt is desirable to make use cf glass fibers as abase and as a reinforce ment in coated fabrics, and it is most desirableto make use of glass fibers in the most economical 5 Claims.(01.,154-52) manner to the extent that glass fibers'may assume theirrightful position in the coated fabric field. In order to compete withnatural fibers from a cost standpoint, it is desirable to use, as thebase fabric, glass fibers which have not been expensively combined infabric form. It has been found that economical use may be made of glassfibers as a base fabric in the form of mats of haphazardly arrangedglass bers. Glass fibers arranged in this form are considerably lessexpensive than woven structures, but their use is rendered more diicultby the fact that such mats generally have insufficient mass integrity towithstand the forces incident to normal handling operations and they areof such porous nature that a considerably greater amount of resinousmaterial is required to coat the fabric to achieve the desired degree ofimperviousness. In the same sense, more complicated procedures arerequired to deposit the resinous material and the like inthe desiredlarrangement and concentration without casing undesirableredistributionof the bersin the fabric-reinforcement. l 4 l -Y Y .lt is an object ofvthisirwentionto provide a` coated fabric reinforced with glass fibersand a method for producing-the saine, the product of this inventionbeing able to compete costwise with coated fabrics otherwise reinforced,andwhich is, from the standpoint of certain physical characteristics, avast improvement over the coated fabrics otherwise reinforced,

Another object of this invention is to produce a new and improved coatedfabric reinforced with glass bers which is low cost and more flexibleand stretchable than coated fabrics reinforced with woven glass bers.

A further object is to produce a fabric of the type described whereinglass fibers in unwoven form comprise the matrix and reinforcement forresinous or resin-like materials that comprise the continuous phase ofthe yfabric which is suitable for many textile 4applications and as aleather substitute. f l 'i These and' other objects and advantages ofthis invention will hereinafter appear and for purposes of illustrationbut not of limitation various embodiments thereof are shown in theaccompanying drawings in which: c

"'F'igure 1 illustrates a system for forming an endless web ofcontinuous glass kliber larnents suitablefor resinous treatment infabric formation;

Figure 2 is a top plan View showing the arrange-` ment of fibers in thefabric formed by the system -r Yof Figure. l;

Figure '7 is a sectional View through a" coated fabric embodyingfeatures ofthisV invention.

In carrying out our invention, the glass bers which form the matrix are:haphazazrdly ar ranged and when the coating materials are to be appliedto the matrix, it is desirable that the glass bers be held in thedesired arrangement with a binder of the type which is'either'compatb'le or strongly'a'dherent with a ,coating com-- position.When, on the other hand', the fibers are incorporated with or deposited'on thecoating material, interbonding is unnecessaryl as the coatingsubstances are capablein themselves'of L serving as the bonding agent toanchor the fibers in the desired distribution orr else combination iseffected soon after fiber deposition in a manner which will not disturbthe desired' fiber arrangement.

It hasbeen found that a greater de'greeofre-- inforcement by unwovenfibers' is derived bythe use of glass bersV in the form cf bundles orropes, and, therefore, such arrangements are speciically included inthis invention. It has been further found that when in the iorm ofbundles, theY interstices between the fibers are of such scope andfrequency that it requires a high proportion of resinous materialv tofill the` inter-- sticesV in a manner desired in an acceptableiab.- i

Byl the use of separated glass berf la ments, such as cut, chopped, or'milled glass:

ric.

fibers, in combinationwith the-glass berfbundles more substantially to`close thev interstices,l considerable saving is made inthe' amount otresinous material required and thetechnique.-offcoat.v`

ing is greatly simplified'.

In one-method, illustrated in Figures 1.v and2; a plurality of strandsI0, each of which-is formed with over fifteencontinuous.'gl'asslanients, are

runout of a plurality of guide eyes ll arranged in spaced relation overa movingco'llecting belt- I2. The strands Il! are run out at a linearspeed much greater than that of the belt l2, and as the strands approachthe belt, they naturally turn' in circular paths tov depositY as swirlsi3. The swirls formed from strands by one guide eye may overlap or beoverlapped by swirls formed from strands fedV rornthesame oradjacentguide eyes. In. their. deposited. relation, fibers. are more. orless haphazardly.- arrangedin a sheet-like layer with the filaments insub.- stantial parallelism with the. facesof the, sheet. Many of the.strands. fed from.. a single. guide eye remain together to formropes.,

Massintegrity of the deposited fibers inabric form is secured by abinder toiorma mat which will hereinafter be referred to. asv swirl mat.The binder is oi the typeY which is strongly adherent to the glass bersurfaces and should be 'f compatible or highly attracted to thematerials which are to comprise the continuous phase or coating.Illustrative as suitable binder compositions are theacrylonitrile-butadiene copolymers (Buna N) which may be applied insolvent illustrates still anothermodi'cation theV glass solvent media.

solution or in aqueous dispersion as a latex and in which the solidcontents may range from l0 to 40 percent. Application may be simplyeffected by spraying the binder composition from a gun I4 as the fibersit! are collected on the mnving belt. Il If surcient` timeaandspace areavailable, the diluent may'l be removed by a simple air dry but, moreoften, it is expedient toldrive off the diluent by exposing the mat for15. to. 3.0. minutes to an atmosphere heated to 200 F2 to 350 F.Sufficient mass integrity ordinarily isi securedv with' the depositionof about 8 percent binderV solids since the deposited resin ordinarilymigrates to the junctures of the bers where it is'able more adequatelyto serve as the bindingagent; The amount of deposited binder may,however, vary within rather broad limits since suilicient mass integritymay be secured with as little as 2 percent binder, and as much as 15"percent binder'has often been used.

To` form the coated fabric, the coating or impregnatin'gresins,hereinafter referred toasV the'- continuous phase, even though it doesnotneeessariiy completely impregnate the fabric, may be applied by aroller coating process. When so applied, it is best to use anyconventional organosoi, which consists ci extremely iinely dividedparticles of resin, such as a vinyl acetatevinyl chloride copolymer,suspended ina non- The media or diluent may be removed'by exposure ofthe coated fabric to a temperature in the range of 200 F. to 350 F. forseveral minutes, and, after it is removed, the sheet may be calenderedbetween heated rolls to impart desired characteristics.

The representative product Secured by the scribed illustration based ona l0-l5 mil' naat has a thickness or about 2l mils and weighs about 24ounces per square yard. It has strength of'abcut 100 pounds per squareinch and a flexure endurance oi over one-haii ion strokes; Thisis to becompared to the nezrure endurance of: ve to ten thousand strokes securedwith substantially same combinations or anaterials reinforced with awoven glass fiber fabric of' corresponding dimension. The increasedfles;- ure endurance is directly attributed to the greater ireedom ofrelative movement between bers. and bundles of bers which allows morestretch in all directions. As a practical matter, the increasedstretchabiiity enables broader use of the fabric in such applications asfurniture covers and like Where it is desirable to draw a fabric overcurves and corners to nt the cover to the curva-- ture of the furniturewithout unsightly creases.

mindthat the binding agent is used to iin,`

partmassiintegrity tothe matwithout interfering 5 materially-'with thefreedom ci movement by the fibers. Representative or" other suitablebinders are the polymeric resinous materials, suchY as polyvinylchloride, vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyvinyl acetate,vinyl acetate-vinyl chloride acrylonitrile copolymer, polyvinylbutyral', polyacrylates, polyalkylacrylates, polybutylene, andpolyesters; and elastomers, such as butadiene-acrylonitrile which may beadmixed with one half to twice its Weight With a compatible A or B stagephenolic resin, isoprene-isobutylene a breaking copolymer,butadiene-styrene copolymer,`chloromy ganic solvent solutions ordispersions, suitable' components of which may be selected from nu.-merous solvent charts. The solids content de pende more'or less on theamount Yof binding agent which it is desired to deposit and the methodof deposition. For spraying, the solids content is usually maintained inthe range of to 30 percent; for now coating, the solids contentv may behigher, such as in the range of Y5 to 50 percent. it isdesirable usuallyto hold the binder content in the bonded fabric to '2 to 15 percent byweight, with 5 to l0 percent concentrations being best for mostpurposes.V As previously pointed out, the diluent may be removed by anair dry or baking at elevated temperatures with or without the aid ofvacuum conditions.- The time and temperature to eieot the desiredremoval vand insolubilisation of the bonding agent depends on the amountand type of diluent, but, usually, fifteen minutes at 250 F. to 300 F.are sufoient for water and solvents of like vapor characteristics, withlower temperatures or less time being required for lower boiling pointsolvents and vice versa for high boiling point solvents. l

As the. coating composition forv a mat bonded with a suitable binder,selection may be made of the flexible or plasticized members of highpolymerio nlm forming materials including the polyacrylates andpolyalkylacrylates, such as methyl methacrylate, ethylacrylates, andbutylmethacrylates; cellulose esters, suchv as cellulose acetate,cellulose propionate, cellulose nitrate, and the like; cellulose ethersincludingethyl cellulose, benzyl cellulose;v polyethylene, isobutylene,polyamides, flexible or elastomeric organo silicones (polysilicones),polyvinyl chloride (Geen) vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer(Vinylite) polyvinylidene chloride (Saran) vinylacetals. such aspolyvinyl butyral; and elastomers, such as butadiene-acrylonitrilecopolymer, butadienestyrene copolymer, polychloroprene,isoprene-isobutylene copolymer, polysulphides, natural rub-` ber,chlorinated rubber, and rubber hydrochloride.

Coating or impregnation maybe made by the roller coating methodpreviously described or by any other suitable method for depositing arelam tively heavy lrn of material onto thesuriaces of the fabric or forimpregnating the fabric. For example, application may alsor be made by aknife coating process, a calendering process, or a dipping process. lneither` of these ffnethods rather high viscosity coating compositionsmay be used, such as the organosols described. Application may be madefrom solvent solutions .in which the amount of coating material isincorporated. Plastisols which are free of diluent and n which fluidityis derived from theuse of a plasticizer are advantageously used incoating processes. lf plastisols are'used drying to remove solvent anddiluent prior to fusing at elevated temperature is not required. Moreoften, however, a small amount of diluent is present and its removal maybe eifected by the use of elevated temperatures usually in the range ofabout 59 F. to 190 above the boiling point of the diluent. lin actualpractice, it appears thatthe coating composition has little tendency tosoften or dis solve the binder holding the fibers' together inthefabric.

The concept of this invention includes the usel of mats other than swirlmat wherein glass` iibers in Vhaphazard arrangement and even incompletely separated form are bonded one to another by the use of asuitable adhesive present in amounts to impart self-sufficiency to themat but enabling relative movement between the bers under stress.

In the event that it is difficult to deposit suf? cient coatingcomposition in a single application, more than one treatment may berequired. In this connection, we have found thatanimprovedlcoatedvfabric may be produced; that is, less coating materialis required, making it poosible to achieve more substantial coverage ina single operation with less coating material when separated bers ofreinforced length are clepositedwith the swirled strands ymoresubstantially to close and fill the interstices of the mat or web. Theseparated bers may be deposited in connection with the fabric formingprocess, as illustrated by the bers l5 in Figure 3. They may beincorporated in the composition with which the mat is coated orvarious'combinations of the described systems may be used. For example,when milled bers are deposited with the strands in the production ofswirl mat, the suction ordinarily employed for holding the swirls ontothe collecting belt apparently drawsthe milled fibers between thedeposited coils substantially to ll the interstices and the resultingmat iseasily'coated in a single knife coating operation.

By vthe term bers of reinforced length, there are included iibers of 1/2to 5 inches in length. Best results are secured when the interstitialfilling fibers are 1A; to 1 inch in length. Suitable bers of the desiredconstruction are secured by milling, cutting, or chopping laments,threads, or yarns under controlledcon-A ditions.

By the method shown in Figures 3 and d, glass bers 20 are laid down inthe manner of forming a swirl mat 2l, with or Without the conjointdeposition of milled or out bers l5 onto a continuous resinous nlm 22.When a sufficient concentration of bers 20 has been deposited, anotherfilm 23 is draped over the deposited fibers and the assembled mass maybe subjected to heat and pressure suflicient to integratefthe two films22 and 23 with the `fibers sandwiched between to form a composite masshaving the characteristics of acoated fabric. In the integrating step,pressures in the range of 50 to 30o pounds per square inch uniformlyapplied through platens 24 and 25 provided with heating and coolingmeans for l0 to 30 minutes with a temperature of 300 F. are sufficientwhen the film is polythene. It will beundcrstood the conditions of time,temperature, and pressurenecessary to integrate the films and fibers inthe desired manner will vary according to the mentsfsoffow under heat,heat and pressure;` or just'. pressure alone.

InsteadY ofV depositing thev glassv fibers. onto a`A dry lmof highpolymeric material, a very de sirable yfabric may be economicallyproduced by depositingA glass bers, that is, continuous laments, shortlengths, and combinations thereof, onto a wet nlm for subsequentintegrationwith ork without a coveringlm. Conversion of the wet film tothe desired impervious layer ofthe` substantially continuous phase maybe effected by the normal process for setting or hardening the highpolymeric component, as by solvent evaporation, advancement ofthepolymeric ma-Y terial toV a higher degreeof polymeric growth, or bythe use of heat and pressure, as in laminat-y ing orcalenderingrprocesses. As a specific illustration, reference ismade toFigure 5` wherein ,a vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer in highconcentration (plastisol) .is rst deposited as a thin layer 30 betweencellophane films 3l and 32. When parted, one face of each cellophanestrip is coated with a thin Vlayer of thewet plastisol. Thereafter,separated glass bersiA rang ing from 1/2 to 2 inches in length or elsecontinuous strands, or both are rained down from above to deposit inhaphazard but in fairly uniform distribution on the resinous layer Siiof the cellophane strip 3l. After the desired amount of fibers have beendeposited, the other strip 3.2 is brought over the top to sandwich theglass fibers therebetween in the manner of la laminate. The laminate isthen cured for three minutesat 310 F. under a 3U pounds per square inchpressure. vAfter. separation ofthe cellophane films uponcooling, anintegrated coated fabric reinforcedwith glass fibers is secured having,a` tensile strength of about Zlpounds per square inch, breaking,strengthpf about;87 pounds per squarev inch, and the-fabrichasexcellent' stretch characteristics.

The described wet processmay be carried out withany of thehighpolymericcoating,materials described which is readilyseparable-uponhard-.-V ening from. the selected backing material correspending to theV cellophane strips 31| and 32. Instead of formingV alayer of `separated fibers on the wet coatingcomposition, mats ofcontinuous strands ,or yarns arranged in parallel or in haphazard orswirled or looped patterns may be used. The mats may be used alone or incombination with loosely assembled or separated. fibers. These latterprocesses may be carried out on a batch principleor they may be arrangedasa unit operation to form endless fabrics reinforced with glass fiberssinceV either the film or thecoated cellophane strips may be fed inendless lengths into a chamber depositing area and then led directly tothe integrating or laminating ele* ment which may be` ofthe' compressionrollern type, illustrated by numeral 3d.

For many applications, the'wet process -is to bef preferred over the dryprocess because the wet layer of polymeric material isable to anchor thedeposited bers and prevent non-uniform rearrangements prior to theintegration step. The wet substances are capable -of'greater'ow underllessrigid conditions of time, temperature,` and' pressure, and, as aresult, more complete integra-f tioncan be effected under conditionsless harmful to the glass fibers. and at less expense.

By a still further modification, the glass fibers of reinforcing lengthsor others of themilled variety may be homogeneously mixed with the highpolymeric material; that is; to;y comprise: theV CII 8 continuous,Aphase; The composition. is then sheeted, as by cooperatingrollersV andthe like. In mostinstances, sheeting will involve heating and coolingstepsif the plastic material in undiluted form is worked orr it mayinvolve setting by evaporation or reaction if a dilutedrcomposition orunrelated compositionis sheeted by depositing a film von a table of thedesired shape.

The ratio of fibers to high polymeric material inthe iinal productdepends -on the characteristics of the polymerand-the length andarrangement of the glass bers. The glass fiber concentration may begreatest when shorter lengths are used and the strength of the resultingfabric may be increased by theuseof longer fiber lengths and liber.bundles. Itwill beevident that combinations of the systems described maybe used wherein a mat of glass fibers is impregnated or coated with a,high polymeric substance in which separated glassbers or milled glassfibers are incorporated.

It will be` understood that the procedures described are .given by wayof illustration and not by way of. limitation and that variouscombinations of the desired methods and materials may be secured withoutdeparting from the spirit of the invention, the .product `of which is anew and improved fabric ofthe type preferably having a stretchableresinous material 4D as the continuous phase. reinforced with glassAfibers il in haphazard arrangement and shiftable relative to eachother. Because of the novel manner in which the fibers are incorporated,the fabric is less. expensive and it is better able tocompete withcoated fabrics reinforced withwoven glass fibers and other. types offabrics based upon natural fibers. Because ofthe permissible relativemovement between fibers and the iiexibility of the coatingv material, ahigh degree of stretch is secured whichfenhancesthe usefulness of thefabric in many oldand in. innumerable new applications. The tensileandtear strengths of the fabric arevery highbecause large` numbersof fibersare able toshiftjrelative, toeach other in the fabric todistrbutethestrength among themselves in oppositiontoV forces tending tobreak the fabric. Because of thearrangement whereby milled, cut orchopped fabrics are arranged as elements to close the intersticesbetween fibers, considerable saving in material is secured and thetechnique Y sistance, weather resistance, electrical resistance,

wear resistance, dimensionalstability, and rela tive inertness of glassfibers.

It will be understood that when stretchability and flexibility are notfactors, compositions based on harderresin modifications and evenresinous materialsof 'the thermosetting type may bel used as a coatingcomposition and that numerous other changes inthe sequence of operationsand conditions may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention, especially as dened in thev following claims.

We claim:

1. An article-of manufacture comprising a thin web of'glass fibers `inwhich the fibers are present l in the formof endless lengths arranged inswirl patterns in overlapping relation, a thermoplastic resinousmaterial binding the'fibers one to an other into a thin,non-woventextile and providing' a receptive base for anchorage. of athermoplastic coating material onto the glass fiber surf faces, and athermoplastic high polymerforming a continuous coating on the surfacesof the thin non-Woven textile to produce a coated fabric having highflexibility, the thermoplastic binder being selected from the groupconsisting of butadiene-acrylonitrile copolymer, polyvinyl chloride,vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyvinyl acetate, vinylacetate-vinyl chloride Aacrylonitrile copolymer, polyvinyl butyral,polyacrylates, polyalkylacrylates, polybutylene, polesters,polysiloxanes, isoprene isobutylene copolymer, butadiene-styrenecopolymer, chloroprene, and a latex, and in which the high polymer forthe surface coating is selected from the group consisting of vinylpolymers, vinyl derivative polymers and vinyl copolymers, polyethylene,polyamides, polyacrylates, polyalkylacrylates, butadiene-acrylonitrilecopolmer, butadiene-styrene copolymer, chloroprene, isoprene isobutylenecopolymer, chlorinated rubber, rubber hydrochloride and a rubber latex.

2. An article of manufacture comprising a thin web of glass fibers inwhich the fibers are present in'bundles of endless lengths arranged inswirl patterns in overlapping relation, av thermoplastic resinousmaterial binding the bers one to another into a thin, non-woven textileand providing a receptive base for anchorage of a thermoplastic coatingmaterial onto the glass ber surfaces, and a thermoplastic high polymerforming a continuous coating on the surfaces of the thin nonwoventextile to produce a coated fabric having high ilexibility, thethermoplastic binder being selected from the group consisting ofbutadieneacrylonitrile copolymer, polyvinyl chloride, vinylchloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyvinyl acetate, vinyl acetate-vinylchloride acrylonitrile copolymer, polyvinyl butyral, polyacrylates,polyalkylacrylates, polybutylene, polyesters, polysiloxanes,isoprene-isobutylene copolymer, butadienestyrene copolymer, chloroprene,and a latex, and in which the high polymer for the surface coating isselected from the group consisting of vinyl polymers, vinyl derivativevpolymers and vinyl copolymers, polyethylene, polyamides, polyacrylates,polyalkylacrylates, butadiene-acrylonitrile copolymer, butadienestyrenecopolymer, chloroprene, isoprene-isobutylene copolymer, chlorinatedrubber, rubber hydrochloride and a rubber latex.

3. An article of manufacture comprising a thin web of glass bers inwhich continuous lengths of bers are arranged in a swirl pattern inoverlapping relation and other glass bers cut to short lengths aredisposed within the interstices between the swirls of continuous fibers,a thermoplastic resinous material binding the fibers one to another intoa thin, non-woven textile and providing a receptive base for anchorageof a thermoplastic coating material onto the glass fiber surfaces, and athermoplastic high polymer forming a continuous coating on the surfacesof the thin non-woven textile to produce a coated fabric having highiiexibility, the thermoplastic binder being selected from the groupconsisting of butadiene-acrylonitrile copolymer, polyvinyl chloride,vinyl chloride-vinyl acetate copolymer, polyvinyl acetate, vinylacetate-vinyl chloride acrylonitrile copolymer, polyvinyl butyral,polyacrylates, polyalkylacrylates, polybutylene, polyesters,polysiloxanes, isoprene-isobutylene copolymer, butadiene-styrenecopolymer, chloroprene, and a latex, and in which the high polymer forthe surface coating is selected from the group consisting of vinylpolymers, vinyl derivative polymers and vinyl copolymers, polyethylene,polyamides, polyacrylates, polyalkylacrylates, butadiene-acrilonitrilecopolymer, butadiene-styrene copolymer, chloroprene,isoprene-isobutylene copolymer, chlorinated rubber, rubber hydrochlorideand a rubber latex.

4. An article of manufacture as claimed in claim 1 in which glass fiberscut to short lengths are uniformly distributed in the high polymericsurface coating on the non-woven textile.

5. An article of manufacture as claimed in claim 1 in which a coloringcomponent is incorporated into the high polymeric material surfacecoating the non-woven textile to impart color of the desired characterto the flexible coated fabric.

ALBERT R. MORRISON. RICHARD F. SHANNON.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date 2,132,702 Simpson Oct. 11, 1938 2,477,555 Roberts et al July26 1949 2,502,514 Ewer Apr. 4, 1950 2,528,091 Slayter 1 Oct. 31, 19502,574,849 Talalay Nov. 13, 1951 2,577,205 Meyer et al Dec. 4, 19512,577,214 Slayter Dec. 4, 1951

1. AN ARTICLE OF MANUFACTURE COMPRISING A THIN WEB OF GLASS FIBES INWHICH THE FIBERS ARE PRESENT IN THE FORM OF ENDLESS LENGTHS ARRANGED INSWIRL PATTERNS IN OVERLAPPING ELATION, A THERMOPLASTIC RESINOUS MATERIALBINDING THE FIBERS ONE TO ANOTHER INTO A THIN, NON-WOVEN TEXTILE ANDPROVIDING A RECEPTIVE BASE FOR ANCHORAGE OF A THERMOPLASTIC COATINGMATERIAL ONTO THE GLAS FIBER SURFACES, AND A THERMOPLASTIC HIGH OLYERFORMING A CONTINUOUS COATING ON THE SURFACE OF THE THIN NON-WOVENTEXTILE TO PRODUCE A COATED FABRIC HAVING HIGH FLEXIBILITY, THETHERMOPLASTIC BINDER BEING SELECTED FROM THE GROUP COSINSNG OFBUTADIENE-ACRYLONIRILE COPOLYMER, POLLYMER, POLY RIDE, VINYLCHLORIDE-VINYL ACETATE COPOLYMER, POLYVINYL ACETATE, VINYL ACETATE-VINYLCHLORIDE ACRYLONITRILE COPOLYMER, POLYVINYL BUTYRAL, POLYACRYLATES,POLYALKYLACRYLATES, POLYBTYLENE, POLESTERS, POLYSILOXANES, ISOPRENE -ISOBUTYLENE, POLESTERS, BUTADIENE-STYRENE COPOLYMER, CHLOROPRENE AND ALATEX, AND IN WHICH THE HIGH POLYMER FOR THE SURFACE COATING IS SELECTEDFROM THE GROUP CONSISTING OF VINYL POLYMERS, VINYL DERIVATIVE POLYMERSAND VINYL COPOLYMERS POLYETHYLENE, POLYAMIDES, POLYACRYLATES,POLYALKYLACRYLATES, BUTADIENE-ACRYLONITRILE COPOLYMER, BUTADIENE-STYRENECOPOLYMER, CHLOROPRENE, ISOPRENE - ISOBUTYLENE COPOLYMER, CHLORINATEDRUBBER, RUBBER HYDROCHLORIDE AND A RUBBER LATEX.